Station indicator



jan. 7, S G' RICHARDS STAT TON INDICATOR Filed July 9, 1934.

www, @ESS @D wem/Or Patented Jan. 7, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

handle, advance the apron a measured distance to present a new station name at the front of the frame or cabinet. In practice, however, with these devices, it has been found that for various reasons, during the operation of the device, the

station names were not moved by the device to be accurately centered at the front of the cabi-r net.

The object of my invention is to provide a device of this class of simple, durable and inexpensive construction, and in which there is provided, adjacent to each station section of the apron, a stop device, and mechanism is provided for moving the apron containing these stop de'- vices to any desired distance, and whether the stop devices are uniformly spacedr apart or not, and until the stop device is in'position for acc'1`1rately centering the station section relative to the opening in the cabinet, and to then automatically and accurately stop the further ad- Vance of the apron.

A further object is to provide a device of this character in which the same operation may be repeated upon a reverse movement of the apron and whereby, without any attention on the part of the operator, other than pulling the handle, all of the consecutively arranged station sections on the apron may be successively and accurately moved to position and centered relative to the opening in the frame or cabinet through which the station may be viewed.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 shows a vertical sectional view through 'a part of my improved device looking from the front of the frame or cabinet and illustrating a portion of the apron and its operating mechanism.

Figure 2 shows a vertical sectional View taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 snows a detail sectional view illustrating the apron locking mechanism and cam for actuating same.

Figure 5 shows a front elevation of a frame or cabinet for containing my improvement and illustrating the arrangement of the opening therein 5'*- through which the stations on the apron may be viewed.

Referring to the accompanying drawing I have used the reference numeral IIJ to indicate generally the frame or cabinet, having at its front an opening at I I through which a section of the apron may be viewed.

Mounted within this frame near the upper and lower ends thereof is an upper apron roller I2 .1 and a lower apron roller I3, and the apron I4 of flexible material, preferably woven fabric, has its ends xed to and wound upon these rollers. Means are provided for alternately winding the apron from one of these rollers to the other. u This means comprises an upright shaft I5 mount- 20 i ed in the frame and having thereon a pinion I5. This pinion is operated intermittently in one direction in a manner to be hereafter described, and fixed to the shaft I5 are two pinions I'I and v I8. Pinion I'I is designed to mesh with a pinion 25* I9 on the lower roller I3, and the pinionIS is designed to mesh with a pinion 2Q on the upper roller I2. In the position shown in Figure 1 the pinion I'I is in position for engaging the pinion I9 on the lower roller, and when the pinion I6 is rotated, the lower roller will be moved in a direction for winding the apron upon it, and the upper roller I2 will be free to rotate.

When, however, the shaft I5 is moved upwardly 35 a slight distance, then the pinion I8 meshes with the pinion 2Q, and the rotation of the shaft I5 in the same direction winds the apron upon the upper roller I2.

For shifting this shaft I5 I have provided a 40 handle 2I rotatably secured to the shaft I5 and projected outwardly through the side of the frame or cabinet, and the operator may grasp this handle 2l and by moving it upwardly, shift the shaft I5 upwardly with it. Any suitable 4L means, not shown, may be employed for holding the shaft at its upper and lower limits.

Secured to the apron at spaced intervals, which need not be uniform, is a series of stop devices 22, preferably made of metal and connected to the apronl in any suitable manner. One stop device is arranged adjacent to each station space on the apron.

Mounted upon the end portion of the frame is a shaft 23 on which there is rotatably mounted a pulley 24, and a chain 25 is fixed to and wound upon this pulley. A spring 25 is contained within the pulley and tends to return it to normal position after the chain has been pulled downwardly.

Mounted on the shaft 23 adjacentl to the pulley is a cam 21, and this cam is fixed to the pulley to move with it.

Mounted upon the shaft 23 and adjacent the cam is a ratchet wheel 28, and carried by the cam 21 is a spring actuated pawl 29, and connected to the ratchet wheel 28 is a pinion 30 in mesh with the pinion I6 before described. By this arrangement it will be seen that when the chain 25 1s pulled downwardly the cam 21 is rotated and the paWl 29 rotates the ratchet wheel 28, and the rotation of the ratchet wheel 28 causes the pinion 30 to rotate the pinion I6 and thereby move the shaft l5 and operate the apron.

Arranged adjacent the opening Il in the front of the frame is a stationary apron guide device 3l over which the apron slides close to the front of the frame. At about the central portion of this stationary guide device for the apron is a fixed stop 32 arranged, under certain conditions, to be in the path of the stops 22 on the apron.

For the purpose of positively moving the apron at times to a position where the stops on the apron will engage with the stationary stop on the frame and thereby prevent further movement of the apron and hold the apron accurately positioned with a station named thereon after it is centered relative to the opening I l in the front of the frame, I have provided the following mechanism:

Mounted within the main frame is a sliding shaft 33. This shaft has a guide device 34, having a broad, flat front face. A spring 35 is provided for returning the guide device to its normal position. An arm 36 projects from the guide device 34 toward the adjacent end of the frame and in the path of the cam 21, and these parts are so arranged that, as the cam 21 moves contraclockwise, as shown in Figure 4, the arm 36 is moved outwardly from the cam to push the guide device 34 outwardly toward the apron, and when the cam is returned by the spring 26 in the pulley 24, to normal position, the guide device 34 is returned by its spring 35 to normal position, as shown in Figure 3.

For locking the guide device 34 at its forward limit of movement during a part of the apron advancing movement, I have provided the following mechanism:

31 indicates a slide bar mounted in the main frame for up and down movement, and it is provided at its lower end with a notch 38 to receive the arm 36, as shown in Figure 4. It is also provided with a spring 39 to normally move it downwardly, and there is an adjustable block 40 at its upper end for limiting its downward movement. Carried by the cam 21 is an arm 4I designed, when the cam is in a certain position, to engage the lower end of the slide bar 31 and move it upwardly. The operation of this locking device is as follows:

In its normal position the slide bar 31 is at its upper limt with the arm 36 in the notch 38. Whenkthe chain 25 is pulled downwardly the cam commences to rotate, and during this rotation moves the arm 36 forwardly out of the notch 38. During this movement the apron has been slightly advanced, enough at least to have the stop device 22 thereon pass the stop device 32 on the frame. When this has been done, then the arm 36 is moved out of the notch 38, and the bar 31 is then free to be moved downwardly by its spring 39 to thereby lock the arm 36 in its forward position, and during this time the guide device 34 is held in its forward position for holding the apron to 5 such position thatthe next stop device 22 thereon will engage with the stationary stop device 32 on the frame.

Obviously, it makes no difference how far apart the stop devices are on the apron, because the 10 chain 25 may be pulled to any extent and the apron advanced to any extent desired before the apron is stopped by the engagement of a stop device thereon with the stationary stop device. Then, when the chain is released, the spring in l5 the pulley 24 causes the cam 21 to rotate in a reverse direction clockwise, as shown in Figure 4, and the arm 4| thereon then engages the lower end of the slide bar 3'? and moves it upwardly to position with the notch 38 adjacent the arm 31, 2O whereupon the spring 35 pulls the arm 36 into the notch 38 and thereby draws the guide device 34 rearwardly away from the apron.

In practical operation it will be seen that the apron may be made of any desired length, the 25 rollers on which it is wound may be of any desired size, and the stops 22 may be placed upon the apron either equally spaced apart or spaced apart different distances, as may be desired. When the operator pulls upon the chain 25 the apron is 30 first advanced a short distance, just enough to permit the stop device thereon to pass the stationary stop device 32. Then the apron is pushed outwardly by the guide 34, so that it is held by the guide 34 in such position that when the next stop V35 device on the apron reaches the stop device 32,. further advance of the apron will be prevented and the station name on the apron will appear accurately centered within the opening in the frame. this guide device 34 in its operative position during the entire advance movement of the apron, and it is not until release of the chain 35 that the, locking device is automatically moved by the armv 4| to position to permit a return movement of 45 the guide device 34, and this same operation takes place upon a reverse movement of the apron when the shaft l5 is shifted.

l I claim as my invention:

l. In a station indicator, the combination of 50 a frame, a movable apron within the frame, means for supporting the apron whereby it may first be advanced longitudinally in one direction and then reversed and advanced longitudinally in the other direction, a series of spaced apart 55 stop devices fixed to the apron, a stop device carried by the frame, a guide device including means whereby when in operative position it will -hold one of said stop devices in such position apron and finally returning said guide device to 70 its said operative position.

2. In a station indicator, the combination of a frame, a movable apron within the frame, means for supporting the apron whereby it may rst be advanced longitudinally in one direction The locking device automatically holds 40 and then reversed and advanced longitudinally in the other direction, a series of spaced apart stop devices xed to the apron, a stop device carried by the frame, a guide device including means whereby whenin operative position it Will hold one of said stop devices in such position that upon the advance of the apron said latter stop device will engage another stop device and thereby prevent further advance of the apron, and when said guide device is moved to inoperative position it Will permit the apron to advance Without having the stop devices engage, means for jointly actuating the said apron and the said guide device, said actuating means including means for rst moving the guide device to its inoperative position, then advancing the apron and finally returning said guide device to its said operative position, and means for locking said guide device in said latter position.

3. In a station indicator, the combination of a frame, a flexible apron, means for supporting the apron Within the frame, a series of spaced apart stop devices xcd to the apron, a stop device carried by the Jtrarne, means for advancing the apron, and means actuated by said apron advancing means for moving the apron to position where the stop devices on the apron will, during the further advance of the apron, engage and be held by the stop device on the frame.

4. In a station indicator, the combination of a frame, a iiexible apron, a series of spaced apart stop devices on the apron, a stop device carried by the frame, a movable apron guide device, means for advancing the apron, and means actuated upon the advance of the apron for moving said guide device to position Where it Will hold the apron to position Where the stops thereon Will, upon the further advance of the apron, engage the stop device on the frame.

5. In a station indicator, the combination of a frame, a flexible apron, a series of spaced apart stop devices on the apron, Va stop device carried by the frame, a movable apron guide device, means for advancing the apron, means actuated upon the advance oi the apron for moving said guide device to position Where it will hold the apron toy position Where the stops thereon will, upon the further advance of the apron, engage the stop device on the frame, and means for locking said guide device in said position.v

6. In a station indicator, the combination of a frame, a iiexible apron, a series of spaced apart stop devices on the apron, a stop device carried by the frame, a movable apron guide device, means for advancing the apron, means actuated upon the advance of the apro-n for moving said guide device to position where it will hold the apron to position where the stops thereon will, upon the further advance of the apron, engage the stop device on the frame, means for locking said guide device in'said position, and means for returning said guide device to position for permitting further advance of the apron.

7. In a station indicator, the combination of a frame, two rollers carried by the frame, an apron having its ends Wound upon said rollers 5 and capable or being advanced in either direction by the movement of one or the other o-f said rollers, a series of stop devices fixed to the apron, a stop device carried by the frame, a rotatable shaft in the frame, gears for transmitting motion from said shaft to said rollers, an apron guide device, a cam carried by saidshaft and shaped, when moved in one direction, to iirst release the apron guide device and, after a short movement, force the apron guide device to position for guiding the apron in a path in which a stop device on the apron will engage the stop device on the frame and hold said guide device in said latter position during the further advance of the apron.

8. In a station indicator, the combination of a frame, tvvo rollers carried by the frame, an apron having its ends Wound upon said rollers and capable of being advanced in either direction by the movement of one or the other of said rollers, a series of stop devices fixed to the apron, a stop device carried by the frame, a rotatable shaft in the frame, gears for transmitting motion from said shaft to said rollers, an apron guide device, a cam carried by said shaft and 3g shaped, when moved in one direction, to first release the apron guide device and, after a short movement, force the apron guide device to position for guiding the apron in a path in which a stop device on the apron will engage the stop device on the frame and hold said guide device in said latter position during the further advance of the apron, and means for locking the guide device in said latter position.

9. In a station indicator, the combinationof aV frame, two rollers carried by the frame, an apron having its ends Wound upon said rollers and capable of being advanced in either direction by the movement of one or the other of said rollers, a series Aof stop devices fixed to the apron, a stop device carried by the frame, a rotatable shaft in the frame, gears for transmitting motion from said shaft to said rollers, an apron guide device, a cam carried by said shaft and shaped, when moved in one direction, to rst release the apron guide device and, after a short movement, force the apron guide device to Aposition for guiding the apron in a path in which a stop device on the apron Will engage the stop device on the frame and hold said guide device in said latter position during the further advance of the apron, means for locking the guide device in said latter position, and spring actuated means for releasing said locking means upon a reverse movement of said cam.

SAMUEL G. RICHARDS. 

